Use Restrictions

The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Access Restrictions

Collection open to research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.

Provenance

The donor found the materials in 2002 in a property she owned at 415 E. Elizabeth St., Harrisonburg.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], [box #, folder #], Hester A. Helmick Simmons Receipts, 1945-1948, SC 0062, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Acquisition Information

The collection of was donated to Special Collections by Jenne Klotz in December 2016.

Bio/Historical Note

Hester Arlena Helmick Simmons (née Westfall), born September 26, 1902 to George Westfall and Mary Borror Westfall, was a resident of Grant County, West Virginia. The 1920 and 1930 federal censuses list her as married to Clyde N. Helmick (1897-1958) who she later divorced. By 1930, the couple had two children, Cleland Cover Helmick (1919-1996) and Junior Earl Helmick (1928-1981). As of the 1940 census, Hester Helmick was listed as the head of her Grant County household where she resided with one son, Stephen L. Helmick (b. 1936). Her marital status is listed as married. At some point after 1947, Helmick and her husband divorced; she then married Raymond Simmons. She died September 23, 1979 and is buried at Lahmansville Cemetery in Grant County.

Scope and Content

The Hester A. Helmick Simmons Receipts, 1945-1948, are comprised of approximately 85 cancelled checks from Helmick's Grant County Bank (Petersburg, West Virginia) checking account. Check recipients include businesses (Sears Roebuck & Co., Grant County Press, Grit Publishing Co., and Thompson's Market) and individuals (Hugh Ours, W. E. Harman, O. G. Harman, Dr. C. E. King, A. E. Simmons, and Verley C. Westfall, Helmick's brother). Helmick's purchases include a bicycle pedal crank and bicycle repairs, Grit newspaper, potatoes, dyes, batteries, groceries, and merchandise. Of particular interest is a cancelled check dated September 20, 1947 made out to "B. F. Mitchell, atty" in the amount of $25.00. The memo line reads "on divorce."

Arrangement

The cancelled checks are arranged chronologically.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Grant County (W. Va.) -- Economic conditions -- 20th century -- Sources
• Business records -- West Virginia -- Petersburg -- Sources
• Checks (bank checks)
• Grant County (W. Va.) -- History -- 20th century -- Sources
• Receipts (Acknowledgments) -- West Virginia -- Petersburg
• Receipts (financial records)